Germanos II

   Patriarch of Constantinople (qq.v.) from 1223-1240, residing in Nicaea (q.v.). He mounted a vigorous defense of his claim to be ecumenical patriarch, and he remained in contact with the citizens of Constantinople (q.v.), who lived under Latin domination. He also defended the claims of John III Vatatzes (q.v.) to be sole emperor (q.v.), despite Demetrios Chomatenos's (q.v.) coronation of rival Theodore Komnenos Doukas as basileus and autokrator (qq.v.) of the Romans. His negotiations with Pope Gregory IX (q.v.) concerning union of the churches (q.v.) resulted in the Council of Nicaea-Nymphaion (q.v.) in 1234, where he defended the Orthodoxy (q.v.) of the eastern Church against the arguments of papal delegates. In 1232 the church of Epiros (q.v.) came under his control, and three years later he recognized the church of Bulgaria as autocephalous (qq.v.). His active career included being mentor to Nikephoros Blemmydes (q.v.); in addition, he authored homilies and theological works.